Artificial hand and arm.



Patented Sept. 10,1918! 2 HEETSSEET l .ZNVEWTUR;

l8. Arr-Y.

n u n J r MI J I F I I :1 [Jim 7..

L. G. CARON.

ARTIFICIAL HAND AND ARM.

1,278,106 APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1917. Patentedsept' 10 191 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J'NVENTUR oCi /Ca/ww J3 ioIum/wl I To all it may concern; Be it known that I, LOUIS STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IJOIIIS a. CA BON, 'OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOB TO ARTIFICIAL LIKB SUPPLY 00., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION.

.eza'rrrxcrn HAND mm mm. 1

, G.. GABON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Toronto, county of York, Province of-Ontario, Canada, have. invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Artificial Hands and Arms, of which the, following is a specification.

' -This invention relates to artificialarms for use in cases where the natural arm has been .removed to a.point at or above the elbow, and my object is to devise an artificial member particularly adapted for Working purposes, which can be bent at the elbow,'turned at the wrist, and the hand used to grip tools all practically without or in any case. with a minimum of assistance from the remaining natural arm, as. described in my co-pending application filed March 12, 1917, Serial No. 154,193.

7 I attain my objects by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, 'of my improved hand and arm;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section taken at right angles'to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 an elevation of a strap used in connection with a working hand; Fig. 4 a front elevation of a hand which may be substituted for the working hand on special occasions;

Fig. 5 a side elevation of the same; Fig. 6 a front view showing the harness V for securing'the arm in place and the straps by means of which the movable parts ofthe arm are actuated;

- Fig. 7 a rear view of the said harness and straps;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are details of a pulley and the locking means therefor used for actuating a cable for turning the wrist member on the arm; and

' Fig. 11 an end elevatlon of the inner end of the wrist member.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is an upper arm socket member adapted to fiton the stumpof the upper arm and-2 is a fore-arm member hinged thereto, the hinge in 3 extending from side to sid e of the oint.

On this hinge pin is journaled the pulley Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 10, 1918, Y "A naau n filed m 4, 1917. Serial no. means.

'This arm is operative y engaged with the fore-arm member, preferably by directly engaging the interior of the fore-arm at the forward side. This permits of the fore-arm I member being hinged on the upper arm member where necessar without the operation of the pulley 4. t is evident that a pull on the cord 5 will rotate the pulley and that the fore-arm member will be swung through the medium of the connections hereinbefore described. The pulley having a shorter radius than the arm 8, a-sufiicient movement of the fore-arm is obtained with out too great a movement of the cord. The pull on the cord is effected by means hereinafter described. v

In order that the fore-arm member may be held bent on the upper arm to any desired position, I provide a spring actuated dog 16 carried by the upper arm member 1 and adapted to engage in any one of the holes 17 in the pulley 4. An operatin cord.

for releasing the dog is connected t ereto and led out through a hole in the arm, thence along the arm-to a point where it is connected to a'trip lever 18 fulcrumed on the to draw on said cord when pressed toward the upper arm member. A coil spring tends to retain the lever in normal position. The

pressure is readily applied to this trip lever by pressing the upper arm member against the wearers side.

In some cases it may not be desirable to have the hand rotate at the wrist every time the elbow is bent. I therefore provide means whereby the pulley 12 may be released from its fixed relationship to the upper arm member whenever desired. For this purpose I provide a plate 19 to which are secured the pins. 20 adapted to pass through holes in the pulley andto enter holes 21 in the side of the upper arm member. Extending through the plate is a screw 22 threaded into the end of the hinge pin 3. A coil spring bears against the plate 19 and the sideof the pulley 12 tending to side of the upper arm member and adapted press the plate outwardly. It is evident that by slackening up the screw 22 that the spring will be permitted to move the plate to withdraw the pins 21 from engagement with the holes 22 when the pulley becomes inoperative.

The wrist end of the fore-arm member is finished with a substantially flat surface, and on this end is swiveled the wrist member 10, which is provided with a substantially flat face to contact with the end of the lower fore-arm member. Preferably a tubular journal 11 is employed for the swiveling of the wrist member and the interior of the outer end of this tubular journal is threaded to provide convenient means for the attachment of the hand, as hereinafter described.

It is desirable that the hand should occupy substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 when the arm is extended and that the hand should be turned at the wrist when the fore-arm is bent on the upper arm. T 0 effect these movements I provide the following mechanism.

At one end of the joint between the forearm and upper arm and concentric with the hinge pin 3, l provide a pulley 12 which is so secured to the upper arm member that it does not rotate relative thereto. Around this pulley is passed a cable 13. This cable is also secured to the pulley so that it does not move relative thereto. A pin 14: is

shown for this purpose 1n Fig. 8, though any other'means whereby the pulley will positively engage the cable would answer the purpose of my invention.

Two parts of the cable are led along the fore-arm, preferably through grooves formed in its shell. Close to the wrist end of the fore-arm and close to the peri hery are located two guides 15, which may e of any form, but are preferably small rooved rollers set close together. Throug' these guides the parts of the cable are led, one to one side and one to the other, and finally pass up grooves formed at o posite sides of the wrist member and eXten ing in a direction longitudinally of the fore-arm member. The ends of the cable are secured respectively to the front and back of the wrist member in said longitudinal grooves.

To secure a proper lead for the parts of the cable I form an annular groove between the wrist member and fore-arm member extending at least half way around the arm. Preferably the groove extends all the way around the arm and is formed half in the wrist member and half in the fore-arm mem-' her as indicated particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 11.

The cable is connected to the pulley 12 in such a position that when the arm is extended the end bf the cable connected to the front of the wrist member is slacked up and the end connected to the back of the hand is narenoe drawn up. The hand thus occupies the position shown in Fig. 1. When the fore-arm is extended on the upper arm as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the end of the cable connected to the front of the wrist member is drawn up, the result bein to twist the wrist member on its swivel 3oint until the groove in the front of the wrist member comes in line with the space between the guides 15. When the arm is straightened out the reverse movement takes place.

The working hand is shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. This hand comprises a fixed member and a hinged member pivoted at 23 on the fixed members These hand members are substantially similar in form and each is shaped as an open frame work comprising two longitudinal spaced members 24 and 25 connected at their ends. A rearwardly facing hook 26 is formed at the forward end and a forwardly facing hook 27 at the rearward end. The forward ends of the frames are outwardly bent as shown at 28 to facilitate the gripping between the members of a cylindrical article with its axis longitudinal of the length of the hand. The longitudinal members are similarly bent at 29 to facilitate the gripping of a cylindrical article with its axis-at right angles to the length of the hand. The inner faces of the members are preferably roughened as shown to prevent slipping.

To operate the movable member I provide a short operating arm 30 to which may be connected the cable 40. This cable leads over the wrist member and into a groove running through the fore-arm member, passing out of a holelocated close to the hinge pin 3. The ends of this cable will be connected for operation as hereinafter described.

The movable member of the hand is operated in the reverse direction'by means of the coil spring 31 surrounding aquadrant guide 32 connected with the arm 30 and passing through a holein the fixed member. An adjusting nut 33 threaded in the guide provides means for varying the tension of the spring.

To enable the movable member to be locked closed or open to-any desired degree, I provide a set screw 34, which is threaded through the fixed member and engages the quadrant.

The hooks 26 are adapted to contact to form, as it were, a single hook and shaped like the oint of a crochet or rug hook. By means o this hook a coat may be buttoned up. The inner edges-of the hooks 27 are preferably serrated as shown.

A strap 35 is provided with a series of button holes 36 by means of which it may be buttoned on to the buttons 37 formed on the hand members. This stra will be found useful in holding tool han les, which are sary here to describe.

engaged by the hand. This hand may be put to many uses which it will not be neces- I have considerably simplified the harness and. operating straps used in connection with my arm, as will appear particularly on reference to Figs fi and 7 of the: drawings.

to be fitted around the shoulder-opposite to the amputated arm. Connections with the upper arm member are provided com rising the straps 39, which are connecte together on top ofthe shoulder and there connected by straps 41 with the arm hole collar member 38 just above the arm pit at desired.

back and front. An operating strap 42 is connected 'to the arm hole collar. at the front and near the top, the other end of this strap being adapted to be connected to the end of the cable 5. An operating strap 43 is connected to the arm hole collar at the back and near the top, the other end of this strap being adapted for connection to the end of the cable 40. If the upper arm member be swung rearwardly a pull is effected on the'cable 5,which swings up the fore-arm member as hereinbefore described. If the upper arm member'be swung forwardly a pull is effected on the cable40,

which operates the movable hand memberas hereinbefore described.

For actual working, the hand hereinbefore described is very efiective. nary purposes and during social intercourse a hand of better appearance is sometimes I therefore provide the hand shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which is shaped to resemble an actual hand. The little finger 44 is preferably permanently bent to serve,

as a convenient hook. The fingers 45 are hinged on the hand to move as a unit. The thumb 46 is independently hinged. Coil springs 47 tend to flex the fingers and thumb in one direction. The cord 40 is divided to form the branches 48 and connected with the fingers and thumb to flex them against the tension of the springs 47. The cord 40 is preferably divided and the parts provided with a suitable coupling 49 to enable the hands to be readily changed.

No claim is made in this application'to the construction of the hand shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

From the above description it will be seen a that I have devised simple and effective means for carrying out the objects of my invention as set out in the preamble to this specification.

What I claim as my lnvention 1s:

1. The combination of an upper-arm.

socket member; harness mechanism adapted to secure the same on an upper-arm stump including an arm-hole collar fitted around the opposite shoulder; a strap connected An arm hole collar 38 is provided adapted v For ordi-' with the arm hole collar member just above the arm pit at back and front, and a pluralit of straps connected on top of the shou der and secured to the up er arm socket member; a fore-arm mem er "con-- nected to the 'said upper-arm member; a

hand connected to the fore-arm member 7 provided with a. sprin actuated hinged and mem er; an operating cor adapted to move said member against the tension 'ofi the spring, said cord being led through the forearm memberand out through the upper" end at the inner side and an operating strap connected to said cord and to the arm-hole collar at the back and near the top.

2. The combination of an upper-arm socket member; a hollow fore-arm member hinged thereto, the hinge pin extending from side to side; a pulley journaled on said hinge pin; a cord secured toand wrapped on said pulley, the cord passing outthrough a hole in the =frontof the upper-arm member; and an arm extending forward from.

'upper-arm member adapted toengage in any one of said holes as thepulley is turned; an operating cord for releasing the dog connected thereto and led out through a hole 'in the arm; a trip lever fulcrumed on the side of the upper-arm member adapted to draw on said cordwhen pressed .toward the upper-arm member; a spring tending to retain the lever in normal position; a cord secured to andwrapped on said pulley, the cord passing out through a hole in the front of the upper-arm memher; an arm extending forward from the pulley within the fore-arm member; and a connection between said arm and the forearm member.

4.' The combination of an upper-arm socket member; a hollow fore-arm member hinged thereto, the hinge pin extending from side to side; a pulley ournaled on said hinge pin; a cord secured to and wrapped on said pulley, the cord passing outthrough a hole in the front of the. upper-arm member; an arm extending forwardfrom the pulley withinthefore-ar'm member; a connection. between said arm and the'fore-arm member; a. wrist-member secured to the forearm membervwith a swivel joint; two cable guides located at the wrist end of the forearm member close together and close to the periphery of said member; a double cable the parts of which pass through the guides and are connected to the wrist memberat y the members being substantially similar in the hand.

opposite sides thereof; and a puliey connected to the upper-arm member concentric with the hinge pin.

5. An artificial hand, comprising a fixed member; a hinged member cooperating therewith, said hinged member having a short operating arm projecting therefrom, the members being substantially similar in form and each shaped to form an open frame work comprising two longitudinal spaced members connected at their ends, a

rearwardly facinghook at the forward end and a forwardly facing hook at the rearward end, the forwird ends ofthe frames being outwardly bent to facilitate the grasp ing of a cylindrical. article between them with its axis longitudinal of the length of the hand, and the longitudinal members similarly bent to facilitate the grasping of such an article with its axis at rightangles to the length of the hand.

6.1 m artificial hand comprising a fixed member; a hinged member coiiperating therewith, said hinged member having a short operating arm projecting therefrom,

form and each shaped to form an open frame work comprising two longitudinal spaced members connected at their ends, a

frame work comprising two longitudinal spaced members connected at their ends, the

forward ends of the frames being outwardly bent to facilitate the grasping of a cylindrical article between them with its axis Y longitudinal of the length of the hand, and

the longitudinal members similarly bent .to

facilitate the grasping of such an article with its axis at right angles to the length of the hand. Y

8. An artificial hand comprising a fixed member; a hinged member coiiperating therewith, said hinged member having a short operating arm projecting therefrom, the members being substantial y similar in aeration form and each shaped to-iform an open frame work ,comprising two longitudinal spaced members connected at their ends, a rearwardly facing hook at the forward end and a gorwardly racing hook at the rearward en 9. lion artificial hand comprising a fixed member; a hinged member coiiperating therewith, said hinged member having a short operating arm projecting therefrom,

the members being substantially similar in form and each shaped to form an open frame work comprising two longitudinal spaced members connected at their ends, a rearwardly facing hook at the forward end, the hooks being adapted to'contact to form a single hook and shaped like the point of a crochet hook.

10. An artificial hand comprising a fixed member; a hinged member cohperating therewith, said hinged member having a short operating arm projectingtherefrom; and a quadrant passing through an aperture in the fixed member; the fixed member having a set screw threaded therein to engage and clamp said quadrant.

11. An artificial hand comprising a fixed member; a hinged member cotiperating therewith, said hinged member having a short operating arm projecting therefrom;

and a quadrant passing through an aperture in the fixed member, a spring being placed on the quadrant engaging both the fixed and movable members to yieldingly hold them in engagement.

12. An artificial hand comprising a fixed member; a hinged member coiiperating therewith, said hinged member having a short operating arm projecting therefrom, the members being substantially similar in form and each shaped to form an open frame work comprising two longitudinal spaced members connected at their ends, a rearwardly facing hook at the forward end and a forwardly facing hook at the rearward end, the orward ends of the frames being outwardly bent to facilitate the grasping of a cylindrical article between them with its axis longitudinal of the length of the hand; a button formed on each of the two forwardly facing hooks; and a strap provided with button holes adapted to be en aged with said buttons.

1gned at Toronto this 27th day of April, 19

LQUIS Gr. QARON. 

